What happens at Crossroads?

Crossroads offers a varied program of services. The primary activities at the moment are fellowship evenings which include games, singing, devotions, craft. Crossroads also provides counselling, care, outings and holidays.

Local community volunteers and people with disabilities are all welcome to participate in Crossroads activities. The activities are organised by Committees. All Christians are welcome to join the organising committees. There is a family atmosphere where everyone is accepted in friendship.

Although Crossroads NSW will continue to provide Christian services specifically for persons with disabilities, it also encourages its host Churches to recognise that people with disabilities are part of the Christian community and should not be excluded by attitudes and practices from the worshiping and serving life of those communities.

The history of Crossroads

Crossroads was founded in Newcastle in 1961 by Rev. Chegwidden of Newcastle Methodist Mission and a Baptist layman, Hilton Hayes. It has 16 branches in Sydney and across NSW. Other states of Australia have also followed NSW's lead and started Crossroads organisations.

Crossroads NSW has retained its interdenominational character with branches hosted by local congregations of the Uniting Church in Australia, the Anglican Church of Australia, the Baptist Union of Australia, the fellowship of Congregational Churches (NSW) and other Christian denominations.

In some other states of Australia, the development of Crossroads branches has taken place under the auspice of the Uniting Church in Australia although local leaders and participants come from other denominations.

In 1995, Crossroads NSW became an incorporated association under NSW law and is recognised as a charitable organisation under NSW law and under the law of the Commonwealth of Australia donations to Crossroads NSW of more than $2 are tax deductible.

Whilst the work of Crossroads NSW began amongst people with an intellectual disability residing in large institutions, it has expanded to include amongst its members, people from all walks of life and with a variety of disabilities (as we all have a disability of some sort).